Judge wants to limit court use of experts

A High Court judge has said the number of experts being called to give evidence in examinership cases is increasing costs and his own blood pressure.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton said he hoped to acquire powers to limit the number of experts giving evidence as he was entitled to take costs into account and was not going to “sit in court listening to multiple experts . . . I’ve had too much of that in the past”.

He made the remarks yesterday when dealing with matters relating to the examinership of a chicken-processing company in Co Waterford employing more than 130 people.

Court protection was granted last August to Cappoquin Poultry Ltd and a related company, Cappoquin Poultry Holdings, after the court heard the business had debts of €6 million.

Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton was later confirmed as examiner. The total costs of the examinership, including fees, are estimated about €200,000.

CPL’s largest unsecured creditor, Henry Good Ltd, had petitioned for Mr McAteer’s appointment.